Israel Matzav

Supreme Court rejects petition seeking to block Ariel College from University status

Israel's Supreme Court has rejected a petition from the Presidents of Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Tel Aviv University, the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, the Weizmann Institute of Science, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, the University of Haifa and the Open University, which sought to block the Ariel Academic College from becoming a university.

The court gave the university presidents the opportunity to amend the petition and file again at the end of January, with a request to reverse the decision to recognize Ariel as a university, since Defense Minister Ehud Barak ordered the upgrade on Monday.

The university presidents had argued....

“These are election days and any decision on this sensitive matter at this time can be interpreted as a political move. There is no logic in acting so urgently,” the document states. Among other arguments, the members of the council wrote that they worry that Ariel’s new status will lead to budget cuts for the other universities in the country.

Ariel isn't out of the woods yet.

While there are many scenarios where the injunction request may be rejected or temporarily granted but with AUC still becoming a university, the quick move by the court signals that it is taking the university presidents' request seriously.

Why did the university presidents do this? Two reasons. First, Ariel is located in Samaria and most of Israel's universities (like everyplace else in the world) are dominated by flaming Leftists. In fact, that may be why the President of Bar Ilan University (which is known to be more tolerant of Rightist students) apparently did not join the petition. 

The second reason for the petition is sheer piggishness: They don't want any more competition.

This would be the first time since the Open University officially recognized in 1980 that an Israeli institute of higher learning has been accredited.

1980. It's been 32 years since another university was accredited in this country Simply unbelievable. 

Labels: Ariel University

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 8:37 PM